Porter Cable (metal) shaper questions

[WisJim]

I'm looking at 7" Porter Cable shaper, first smaller sized shaper of any brand that I've found locally, and have questions about what to check out on it, areas of concern to check, and general advise. I'm not real familiar with shapers, just some exposure to them in an adult evening shop class years ago, but if I could get it cheap enough I'd add it to the new shop.

 

[JHuston]

The Porter-Cable shaper is a pretty rare machine ( the urban legend is that only fifty were ever made, but I've seen too many examples to buy that. Nevertheless, they're uncommon).

Porter-Cable sold the design to Logan, who really didn't deviate from the original except to change the name tag. If I were to see one, I'd be all over it like stink on an ape because I like Porter-Cable machines, but as a user, the main things I can think of are broken gears, an excessively worn ram, missing components, etc.
Post some photos of it if you get it- I'd give my eyeteeth to find one here in Ohio.
-James Huston

 

[Roberts210]

Does it have the vise? Metal shapers take a particularly strong vise to hold the work.

 

[WisJim]

Yes it has the vise which looks proper to me, and the whole thing looks really nice, I'd be happy to move it in and hook it up and start to use it. I'll let you know what happens, may take a while to get a price, etc., due to winter and Covid.

 

[JHuston]

There's a pretty comprehensive thread on owwm.org about a P.C. shaper that a fellow I know restored; it will give you an in-depth look at how the machine is set up.
I wish you luck!
-James Huston

 

[tombell572]

Here's some more info your shaper: http://www.lathes.co.uk/loganshaper/index.html

Post some pics when you have a chance.

Tom B.

 

[Douglas527]

Any updates on the shaper? I also have a Porter Cable shaper and can answer any of your questions.

Doug B.

 

[Maui]

Please post some pics if you can. Be sure to check out what type of motor it has. They were supplied with both 3 phase and single phase motors. I have an 8” logan shaper that came with the original 3/4 hp 3 phase motor. The previous owner bought it at a school auction over 20 years ago, parked it in his basement, and never got it working. I removed the stock motor and replaced it with a 1.5 hp single phase motor, freed everything up, and now I have it working. It is a very well built machine, and has mechanical variable speed through a Reeve’s drive mechanism.

 

[Douglas527]

The motor on my shaper is a 1/2 hp single phase motor. It is the original motor. It has a paper tag on it that says the tag was printed on 12-10-41. The SN on my machine is # 140. A few pictures are attached.

Doug B.

 

[WisJim]

I ended up not getting the shaper, it went for more than I could afford at the time, and at that time my new shop space wasn't ready for moving machines yet, so the entire situation got complicated. Probably a good thing that I couldn't afford it then.